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SPECIAL ISSUE:
GHL Royals sold!
Kingfish press release
Commishioners notes
Rumours and Gossip
HipChecks

ROYALS SOLD!

Branch LaHave: In an unbelievable move the Royals have been sold and Big Al is teamless, "Thirston had money problems and had to cash in his interests in the Royals, it is very unfortunate that this had to happen. I understands Thirston's need and this will provide a new opporunity for me to manage the GHL with full effort" Al was quoted as saying at the press conference.   Big Al went on to say that he wanted to focus on the league from a operations perspective and be one of the first FHL leagues that the commish does not have a team. He explained " Its tough to GM and Commish, as it is hard to be percieved as neutral no matter what you do. Our league has been strong and very cooperative, and that I attribute to the quality of our GM's. In order to continue the strength and progress it is necessary for me to concentrate on league operations full time. I hope that the league views this as a very positive move."   It was rumored that the Ex GM had veto rights on the selection of the new owner as there were several bidders. The Royal's formerly the Hellcats have been a top level team and a GHL member since inception.  They would like to thank thier fans and followers for the support they have been given over the years.

KINGFISH PRESS RELEASE!

The Branch LaHave Royals have been sold to sailing tycoon, Steve Johns.  Johns has made his fortune with his company, Classic Sailing Co., building sailboats and renovating historical sailing vessels from as far back as the 15th century.  Johns lives in Jacksonville, Florida where the Royals will make their new home. Former owner of the Royals, Thirston Moneebags, is said to have sold the team at around  $150 million.  This is not the only team that Johns owns.  He also owns the ICHL New York Islanders and PBHL Key West LandSharks and their respected farm systems.  He had this to say at the press conference announcing the sale. “ I am very happy to bring this well respected team to Florida.  Being a true Southerner all my life and loving the sport of hockey, I can’t be more pleased to bring the residents of Florida another hockey team.  I would bring the Islanders team that I own down here if I could, but them Yankees up there in New York would put a contract out on my life if I took away their hockey team.  I have a tradition of winning hockey teams.  I have been to the playoffs every year in the ICHL and won the Inaugural Maritime Cup in the PBHL last year.  I look to continue my winning ways with this team.  Because I live here in the city of Jacksonville, I am not only going to be the owner of the team but I will also be the General Manager.  My first official announcement is that Mike Keenan will stay on as the coach.” And with that, Johns left the press conference without answering any questions but a question and answer session will be scheduled within the next week.  Before Johns said his spill, the new name for the team and other team information was made available.  Here is the info: Team Name: Jacksonville Kingfish Arena Name:  The Feeding Pit (18,000 seats) Owner and GM: Steve Johns Email Address: [email protected] ICQ Number: 59687803 The team logo will be unveiled after the question and answer session next week.

GHL Rumours and trash talk.
 

When GM Dean Belanger of the Edmonton Bearcats heard that Paul Kariya was not being selected Player of the Week, Belanger went through the roof.  "That SOB Grienke......can't he see the stats.....what an crackhead.....Kariya is 20 times the player Mironov is !!!!"  Rumour has it that the Grienke-Belanger feud goes way back to when they were childhoods friends.  The two were 13 and involved in a rough and tumble game of one on one sponge hockey when Belanger spit in Grienke's hair.  Grienke replied by pushing Belanger and reportedly called him, "STUPID" and "A REALLY STUPID HOCKEY PLAYER".  No one can confirm the report as Belanger and Grienke will only mutter "Asshole" when the other's name comes up in conversation.

Earthquake off to annual slow start!!!!   Every year it seems the Earthquake cannot seem to get it going.  ICQ is rampant with rumors involving the club.  One rumour that does not seem to go away is that Jagr will be heading to the Bearcats in a huge swap which could involve Paul Kariya.  There also are whisperings that GM Ryan Barkhouse will perform his yearly theft of a player or two off of the Royals GM Al Barkhouse possilby netminder Byron Dafoe who looks to be dispensible with Olaf Kolzig playing so well.

The Vikings have landed !!! The Vikings have landed!!!!  Where in the world was Magnar Sundvall??? That is the question on every GM's mind after Magnar mysteriously reappeared after a self-imposed year-long absence from the GHL.  GHL News has learned that Magnar took a left instead of a right after leaving the arena after being knocked out of the Season 2 playoffs.  Turns out that he ended up in Russia.  Being a guy, he would not ask for directions and it has taken him a year to return to Sweden (not to mention the GHL).  When asked about his hopes for the upcoming season, Sundvall shrugged his shoulders and said, "Finishing last in the GHL will be 100% better than living in Russia the last year.  I don't care how I do."  (ED NOTE: Cmon Magnar, lets shed the "What me worry" facade and reveal the trading shark that lies underneath.)

Avalanche cleaning house! It didn't take long after the trade freeze was lifted before GM Jack Bredenhoft got out the ol'Axe and started moving players. What the TGN paper is trying to figure out is what the GM's plan is?? It is reported that Jack has purchased some type of special software that will predict a players future performance. Apparently he picked it up when on a hockey scouting trip to India from a local snake charmer along with a bottle of snake oil and special camel dung for his farm team!  Big Al, GHL Commish, heard about the dung and reminded Jack that there are fines in place for use of illegal substances on farm teams.

HIPCHECKS
(ED NOTE:  This section will be about whatever I want to talk about.)
 

Hello....welcome to the first issue of Season 4's GHL NEWS.  Hope you enjoyed it.    If you did not, make sure you email me what you did not like. I would also love to get any ideas from the rest of the GMs on what they would like to see in the paper. am going to use my soapbox this week to talk about the GHL and its GMs.  I have been involved in six FHL leagues now.  I am currently involved in three.  Of those FHL leagues, the GHL has been by far the best league that I have been GMing in.  Why has it been great?  Dedicated GMs and a great commish. What is a dedicated GM?  I think a dedicated GM is a guy who will send in his lines frequently, will participate in trade discussions, and will try to improve his team. This league is full of guys (sorry Jess, girls too) like that.  It is why GMs like Jessica Sirikit, John Walker, and Matt Banks have been part of the league forever, it is why GMs like Magnar Sundvall come back and it is why newer GMs like Tom Eisenring and Jack Bredehoft are dying to get into this the league. That is about all I have to say....I have worked on this thing for 3 hours now and my kids are restless and we're going for pizza. I would like to add that I would love to get more people involved with the paper.   If you would like to make an annoucement, send it to me.  If you would like to start a rumour, send it to me.  If you think someone got burned in a trade or would like to takeover Trades section, let me know.  If you want to contribute with an article, great.  The more the merrier.

Until Next Issue........HOW BOUT DA PIGS !!!!

GRIENK
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